Show GOOD foundation HERD IS ESSENTIAL TO OBTAIN ANIMALS OF UNIFORM TYPE lr i f 01 ff 9 AARY R A 7 U va IM W 1 K W rn I 1 M al 1 NN fo k I 1 A fi 6 FAT OR LARD TYPE HOG OF POLAND CHINA BREED prepared by the united states department of agriculture 1 in fee feeding ding hop hogs for the market as also with any other other class of meat animals larger returns are obtained ahen the stock Is as nearly uniform is aa possible and as it is very profitable for each farmer to breed his own feeders particular attention should be given to the selection of the original breeding stock uniformity la 19 of primary importance for to have a uniform crop of pigs there must be uniformity in the breeding herd and to obtain this roust must L be one of the first considerations in selecting the original lierd herd selection of sows bows the females of the herd may be ob tallied by purchasing bred sows bows or gilts safely in pig to a boar of recognized worth As it Is often difficult to obtain a sow which has shown herself to be a good breeder by the previous litters she has produced it is advisable for economys sake to purchase bred gilts these should be about 12 months old being bred after the age of eight months and it if possible all should be in pig to the same boar here Is the first opportunity to practice selection for uniformity whether purebred pure bred or not the sows bows should be similar in color marking tipe and conformation the type of the sows bows selected should be the one which the market demands while there Is some variation between the different breeds it Is largely a matter of characteristics its as a good individual no matter what breed it represents it if properly fed and managed well win will make economical gains it if possible the first purchase of sows bows should be made from one herd for in Ws this manner it Is easier to get uniform tty ity uniformity goes deeper than the tha mere visible type of conformation it is determined by past ancestry and Is controlled by the characteristics contained in the germ the germ Is continuous extending from individual to individual and any member of the chain clinen shows in its visible conformation only a few ot of the possible combinations in other words a sow may not produce offspring in typo to herself unless her ancestors were of the same type by selecting the sows bows from one herd it is not only possible to choo choose e animals similar in visible type but they are apt to be similar in dormant characteristics as well in buying such animals the farmer fanner Is not purchasing separate individuals to form so many breeding anlis units but rather kindred individuals all parts rt of f a single established line or type which niia ill blend together to form a single breeding unit at best it Is impossible to choose sows bows that will produce true to type tor for as yet no line of breeding is absolutely pure but by selecting the sows bows in this manner the chances for uniformity are immeasurably increased some mistake ds s are bound to be made and their correction will be difficult but by keeping records of the breedin breeding 9 stock and their produce it will be possible to dispose of 0 undesirable individuals its as their poor reproductive ability becomes known one ideal must always be uppermost in the beeders br eders mind and the stock must constantly approach nearer to that one ideal in order to make any real progress it is relatively easy to produce hogs but to produce uniform hogs that will build up and advance the breed requires time and constant effort |